Stepping Stones Specialty Tutoring is a boutique service that supports diverse learners. We offer private instruction tailored to each student’s unique educational needs.

Our focus is to foster academic skills, confidence, and independence, which allows our students to thrive.

Orton-Gillingham Literacy Support

Private Literacy Intervention is available for students with language-based learning challenges. Each student begins with a Diagnostic Assessment to determine the specific areas that need further reinforcement. Then, a personalized learning plan will be developed by an OG Canada certified language interventionist. All teaching is multisensory, structured, sequential, and interactive.

Concepts covered during the private sessions include the following:

Phonological Awareness Skills
Alphabet Knowledge
Sight Words
Phonograms
Spelling Rules
Ratios
Morphemes
Reading

This program is suitable for Pre-K through Grade 6.

Educational Assessments

Educational Assessments offer parents critical insights into the current academic and social / emotional functioning of their children. Parents may sense that there are delays in their child's learning, but are uncertain how to pinpoint the specific areas of challenge. Stepping Stones provides parents with the information that they need. We offer detailed assessments in the following areas for grades K-12:

Math
Literacy
Social / Emotional Skills

Once the assessment process has been completed, parents will be given a detailed report with recommendations for their child. The report can be forwarded to the classroom teacher to act as a guide in the classroom setting.

Social / Emotional Functioning

Success for our students goes far beyond academics. At Stepping Stones, we use Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) techniques to foster prosocial behavior and confidence in the children we work with, particularly those with Autism Spectrum, ADD / ADHD, ODD, Dyslexia or Anxiety.

These conditions can act as barriers to optimal functioning, which is why early, targeted intervention is so important. We use evidence-based strategies to bring about positive changes in children’s social and emotional well-being.

In addition, we serve as student and parent advocates in the classroom, by working collaboratively with schools: we design tools for teachers that they can effectively use with the students that they teach.

Autism Support

Stepping Stones assists students with an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis to reach their full academic capabilities. School can be a challenging experience for students on the spectrum, as they frequently have difficulties with social interactions, changes in routine, and sensory overload. School often feels overwhelming and anxiety-provoking for them, which can negatively impact their ability to learn.

Stepping Stones has extensive experience working with autistic children and helping students with this learning difference attain their goals. We provide a quiet and supportive one-on-one learning environment for these students. Whenever possible, we front-load the upcoming curriculum to help decrease the stress of the classroom setting.

As an added support, Stepping Stones works collaboratively with Dr. Barb Fitzgerald, an in house developmental pediatrician, who specializes in diagnosing autism in children.

Stepping Stones accepts Ministry-funded students, and we bill the government directly for our services.

English as a Second Language

We support English as a Second Language (ESL) students by using a structured, sequential, multisensory, Orton-Gillingham approach. Stepping Stones assists ESL students in developing all of the critical components of language acquisition: pronunciation, sound / symbol association, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, reading fluency, grammar, as well as conversational and writing skills. Classes are available in a private or small group format.

Virtual Book Club

The Stepping Stones' online book club is suitable for grades 3-6. Our club encourages a desire for reading, while giving students the opportunity to share their insights in a small group setting. Through these classes, students will learn about character development, plot lines, thematic content, and vocabulary.

Students are assigned a book to read each month, and they receive a list of discussion questions, which will form the basis of our monthly get togethers. During our monthly meetings, students then share their perspectives, while gaining confidence, when speaking in front of a group.

Stepping Stones’ book club is your child’s starting point to critical reading, which is essential for student success!

Classes will run on the first Sunday of every month from 10:00-11:00am.

Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning Skills are critical to a student’s success, but they aren’t taught explicitly in the classroom. At Stepping Stones, we improve academic outcomes by teaching students how to effectively initiate, plan, and organize their school work. We help students to persevere with their tasks, and we teach them to be flexible in their thinking, so that they can successfully reach their goals.

Money Management and Financial Literacy for Teens

When teens become financially literate, they understand the power of money, and thus are able to make smart decisions that set them up for success. Using engaging and interactive activities, Stepping Stones teaches teens valuable lessons about money and personal finance. This course covers the following content:

Budgeting
Saving for the Future
Investing
Goal Setting
Values and Money
Debt
Ways to Build Your Credit Score

Specialized Educational Services

A Psycho-Educational Assessment is administered by an educational psychologist who performs a series of tests to determine a child’s current cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. Based upon the outcome of the testing, it will be determined whether or not a child meets the diagnostic criteria of a specific learning disorder, developmental disorder, or attention disorder.

An Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, is a student-centered document that is prepared by the school-based team, based upon the results of the Psycho-Educational Assessment. This document contains a student’s goals and objectives for the year. In addition, the IEP outlines any accommodations that a child is entitled to, as well as any modifications that are to be made to the curriculum.

Stepping Stones offers the following specialized educational services:

Psycho-Educational Analysis and Feedback
IEP Interpretation and Feedback
Background Reports for Students Who Will Be Undergoing a Psycho-Educational Assessment
Background Reports for Students Who Will Be Having an IEP Prepared
Student and Parent Advocacy

Educational Links for Parents

Subjects

Language Arts Pre-K - 7
English 8 - 12
French K - 12 (Regular and Immersion)
Math Pre-K - 12
Calculus 12
University Math & Statistics
Foundations 11 - 12
Science 8 - 10
Chemistry 11 - 12
Physics 11 - 12
Biology 11 - 12
IB and AP support for all academics

Weekly Tutoring

Stepping Stones is currently accepting students for private tutoring, and we offer subject support in all core academics.

We assist students with school-based work, as well as provide supplementary review and preview material to maximize each student’s learning potential. Our resources and our teaching methodologies follow the current BC Ministry guidelines.

Drop-In Tutoring

Drop-in Tutoring is a service where students can come in for a session or a couple of sessions, in order to prepare for an upcoming quiz or test. Parents simply contact the office to find out our availability on any given day.

This service works well for strong academic students who simply need a bit more practice with the current concepts that they are working on.

Online Tutoring

Stepping Stones offers online tutoring via the Zoom platform for all subjects and all grades. This is a great option for parents who don't have the time to drive their children to tutoring, for those who live outside of West Vancouver but who would still like to receive tutoring support, as well as for those students who may be sick and thus not able to attend in person.

Zoom tutoring provides high quality, online instruction. All content is sent in advance of the lessons, and instructors use the interactive whiteboard, when working with their students, to clearly outline all concepts.

If you would like to register for Zoom tutoring, please contact the office for day and time options.

Summer Math Preview

Stepping Stones offers Summer Math Preview for students going into grades K - 12. This course gives students exposure to the upcoming curriculum, which builds their confidence and develops their math skills. At the end of the course, each student will have a math booklet to take home, which will serve as a resource guide for the upcoming school year. The program can be taught privately or in a small group format.

Exam Invigilation

Stepping Stones offers Exam Invigilation as one of its services. We act as Exam Proctors for students who are unable to write their tests at the designated time allotted by their school. Once complete, all pertinent documents are scanned to the designated teacher.

We have supervised students attending various schools, including IMG Academy in Florida. Stepping Stones communicates with administration prior to the exam, and we follow all protocols required by the specific educational facility.

University Application Assistance

Having a polished and flawless application is an essential component for entry into higher education. Stepping Stones can help ensure that your university entrance essays are original, fluid, and eloquently expressed. We provide guidance with idea generation, essay structure, and proofreading.

Academic Advising - High School and Post-Secondary

Stepping Stones provides students with academic advising at the senior high school and university level. We help students to understand the specific admission requirements for various university programs, and we work with students to seamlessly navigate the university application process. In addition, we enable students to identify their educational goals, and we work collaboratively with them to map out a plan for occupational success.

Hours of Operation

We are open seven days a week to best serve the needs of our clients.

Tutoring is available after school and in the evenings. We also have daytime tutoring available for parents who wish to bring their children during school hours.

About Bev

Meet Wilbur

Wilbur is a rescue from Houston, Texas. He is now the resident therapy dog at Stepping Stones. He has a gentle and upbeat demeanor, which makes everyone feel relaxed and happy. He loves to give kisses and cuddles, and he appreciates belly rubs and ear scratches. You will usually find him in Bev's office sleeping in his donut bed, but he often does periodic tours of the main studio, where he trots on through to say hello to students, staff, and parents. Feel free to come by and sprinkle Wilbur with affection.

Bev is the owner and administrator at Stepping Stones Specialty Tutoring. She oversees the day to day operations of the two teaching studios at the historic Black Cat, and she manages an amazing team of educators who are passionate about enabling all students to reach their highest potential. Bev has been an educator for the past 30 years, and she has successfully run two, boutique teaching facilities in West Vancouver during this time. Bev is an OG Canada certified language interventionist, and she participates in regular professional development, in order to stay up-to-date with the latest educational research and best teaching practices. Bev's focus is on helping neurodiverse children to succeed both emotionally and academically.

Recently, Bev launched The Menopausal Mind: a business dedicated to educating, supporting, and mentoring women through the menopausal transition. Bev uses a “lived experience” framework when working with clients, as she successfully navigated through her own perimenopause. In addition, she has read dozens of books on the menopausal transition. Bev is also a certified Menopause Doula through Doula Canada and a Menopause Coach through Women of a Certain Stage, out of the UK. For more information, please visit The Menopausal Mind.

About Dr. Barb

Phone 604-260-0950
Fax 604-291-1510
Dr.BarbFitzgerald@gmail.com
The waiting list is currently closed and unfortunately, we can’t make any exceptions. We know this is a very challenging time to be accessing an assessment and apologize that we can’t help you at this time.

Dr. Fitzgerald is a developmental pediatrician with over 25 years of experience working with children and families. The focus of Dr. Fitzgerald’s practice is performing diagnostic assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Fitzgerald has taught and spoken widely on many areas of child development. She is an Associate Professor at UBC and was an Assistant Dean of the UBC Medical School. Dr. Fitzgerald was nominated as a YWCA Woman of Distinction for her work with vulnerable families. Dr. Fitzgerald spent almost 20 years at Sunny Hill Health Centre working with children, and she is a qualified specialist through BCAAN for providing autism assessments. She is passionate about supporting families and helping children to reach their full potential.

Instructors

Troy completed a double major in Computer Science and Psychology at Dalhousie University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. Troy is the technical expert at Stepping Stones. Troy has been designing custom software for clients for the past 25 years. He uses his skills in software development to enable every aspect of the business to run smoothly. Troy takes care of all of the behind the scenes operations at Stepping Stones: creating programming, scheduling students, invoicing clients, designing the website, and brand development. In addition, Troy teaches several of our specialty programs: keyboarding, public speaking, executive functioning, and information technology.

Oliver grew up in Burnaby and attended Burnaby Mountain Secondary. He recently completed a double major in Math and Philosophy at Simon Fraser University. Oliver is now pursuing a degree in law. Oliver has extensive experience tutoring undergraduate Math at SFU, and he has also taught Computer Science, Philosophy, and Economics. Math has always been Oliver's passion; he loves learning mathematical principles from the simple to the complex. He aspires to enable students to view Math as beautiful, simple, and truly fun. Oliver has an excellent understanding of the mathematical fundamentals at the secondary and post-secondary level, and his writing experience from his Philosophy degree gives him a special ability to explain mathematical concepts in a clear and concise manner. Oliver is a warm and caring individual who students can easily relate to. When not teaching math, Oliver spends his time singing in choirs throughout the Greater Vancouver region.

Nadine graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Linguistics and Psychology. She then spent several years teaching diverse learners in specialized educational facilities, such as Symbols Multisensory Learning Center. She also worked as a literacy interventionist to assist struggling readers in Grade 2 at Irwin Park Elementary. In addition, Nadine served as a BC Autism Support and Resource Specialist, and a Behavior Interventionist, where she utilized ABA techniques to meet the desired social, behavioral, and educational goals for the children she taught. Currently, Nadine is a Project Coordinator for the Provincial Health Services Authority. Nadine is a passionate and dedicated educator who prides herself on excellence. Her central goal is to empower students and enable them to thrive in a safe and supportive learning environment. She teaches literacy and elementary math at Stepping Stones.

Jaipal grew up on the North Shore, and he graduated from Handsworth Secondary. He went on to attend both UBC and SFU, during his undergraduate studies, and he recently completed his degree in Finance at the Beedie School of Business at SFU. During his university studies, Jaipal had the opportunity to be an intern on the trading floor. Jaipal's future occupational goals are to pursue a career in Finance or Law. At Stepping Stones, Jaipal uses logic and emotional intelligence when conveying concepts to students, in order to help them intuitively understand the content. He is an ambitious and charismatic instructor with strong social skills and a passion for teaching. His positive, kind, and welcoming personality style enables students to learn effectively and reach their academic goals.

Alison holds a MA in English Literature from Concordia University. She is passionate about early literacy and has teaching experience both in Canada and internationally. Alison creates an inclusive and engaging learning environment that fosters growth and development. Her dedicated approach to teaching the foundations of reading has helped countless students to succeed in their educational journeys. Her love for language and literature is reflected in her teaching, making her a top-notch educator who aims to inspire and motivate students to achieve their goals.

Sulinder graduated from UBC: she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Mathematics. She went on to obtain her teaching certificate through the same institution. Sulinder spent her career, which spanned over 30 years, as a high school mathematics teacher. She taught at Prince of Wales, Windsor, Carson Graham, and Sutherland Secondary School, where she retired from. Because of her passion for teaching, Sulinder is now an educator at Stepping Stones, where she eagerly shares her mathematical knowledge with her students. Her calm and kind demeanor makes all her students feel at ease.

Faith is an Orton Gillingham Practitioner-Associate Interim. She studied at Kwantlen Polytechnic University to become certified as an Education Assistant, and she worked in the school system for three years. She then studied and completed her Orton Gillingham course work at Reach Learning Centre. After finishing her practicum, she became certified as an Orton Gillingham Practitioner-Associate Interim through the Canadian Academy of Therapeutic Tutors. Faith’s area of specialty for OG literacy development is Pre-K to Grade 5. Faith also teaches Language Arts for Pre-K to Grade 7 and Math for Pre-K to Grade 4. Faith is a dedicated educator who has a warm and welcoming personality. She has a passion for helping children to reach their full potential and succeed in their personal goals, and she, most importantly, makes every child feel valued.

Melika grew up in West Vancouver, and she attended Sentinel high school. Melika recently completed her degree in Psychology and Special Education at UBC. She is currently a law student at the same institution. Prior to working at Stepping Stones, Melika had several years of tutoring experience working at two different learning centers in West Vancouver. At Stepping Stones, Melika teaches English and Math at the elementary and the secondary level. Melika is a patient and caring instructor who always strives to instill a love of learning in her students.

Daphné grew up in Switzerland, and she is a native French speaker. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Université de Lausanne. Daphné fell in love with Canada during her exchange at the Université de Montréal. She then decided to move to Vancouver, in order to pursue a Master’s degree in Journalism at UBC. At Stepping Stones, Daphné teaches French from K-12 , as well as Math for Grades 1-7. In addition to tutoring at Stepping Stones, Daphné writes for the Vancouver newspaper, La Source. As a journalist, Daphné is able to help people to understand various topics in a clear and concise manner. She is a patient, empathetic, and adaptable teacher, whose skill base enables students to excel in their French studies.

Azi holds a Bachelor of Science degree, and she is currently working on her BA in Psychology. Azi has over ten years of experience working with learners with specialized educational needs, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADD / ADHD, ODD, autism spectrum, and anxiety. Azi is an OG Canada certified language interventionist. In addition, Azi is trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis: this evidence-based methodology fosters prosocial behavior in students. Azi is a passionate educator who implements innovative, educational strategies and techniques to ensure the academic, social, and emotional success of every student she teaches.

Roya is a dedicated and passionate educator who uses innovative teaching techniques to solidify understanding, as well as instill a love of learning in her students. Roya has a wealth of experience in designing engaging lesson plans that cater to various learning styles and abilities. Roya has a Master’s degree in Education and Educational Psychology, and she has extensive experience working with preschool and primary school students in academic early learning programs. She is an educational professional who stays current with the latest research on best teaching practices.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s of Education in Biological Sciences and Music. Currently, she is an educator in the North Vancouver School District, as well as a part time instructor at Stepping Stones. Stephanie is passionate about helping learners to discover their hidden potential, and she has the gift of being able to create a welcoming and safe environment for students to grow as learners, so that they can reach their fullest potential. Stephanie teaches high school Math and Science at Stepping Stones.

Brooke is a dedicated educator who has extensive experience working with diverse learners both within the school system and without. Brooke is an OG certified language interventionist. In addition to working with students who have dyslexia, Brooke has also taught children on the autism spectrum. She has a wealth of experience teaching at risk children with FASD, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Brooke effectively utilizes various educational strategies, in order to promote prosocial behavior and to positively impact children's sense of well-being.

Testimonials

“Our daughter has attended OG tutoring at Stepping Stones for the past 12 months. During this time, we have come to regard Stepping Stones as an indispensable resource to our daughter and to our family. Not only has our daughter flourished in her language skills through the one-to-one OG support, as a family we have been able to rely on their punctuality of appointments, timely response to email inquiries regarding scheduling and payment, and we have always been welcome to ask for feedback and updates on our daughter's progress. We can confidently recommend Stepping Stones to other families.”

- P&J

“My son and daughter have greatly benefitted from the tutoring that they have received at Stepping Stones. We are loyal clients who have been using the service for many years. I very much appreciate the flexibility of scheduling, as well as the reliability of the instructors. I also love the location; it is super convenient for me! In addition, the space is warm and welcoming for my children and myself and even my dogs:)”

- Annabel P

“Our son has benefitted enormously from Faith’s exceptional care, dedication, and skill. We enrolled him in Stepping Stones in grade three to aid him in his language development. We could not be more pleased with his progress. His reading comprehension, word recognition, phonetic pronunciation, and enjoyment of reading have all increased drastically in the 6 months that he’s been seeing Faith. He has made huge strides to catch up to his grade level, thanks to the calm and safe learning environment Faith consistently provides. It has been remarkably heartwarming to see how Faith has helped to expand our son’s horizons and give him the chance to succeed academically. Our family regards Faith with the highest possible acclaim and will continue to rely on her expertise for years to come.”

- Vancouver Parents

“As a parent caught between a school with limited personalized resources and home reading time where I lacked the skills and relationship to push my children to realize their full potential, Stepping Stones came to the rescue. Working in this positive and private setting allowed my children to build confidence in their reading and comprehension which put them back on track to succeed in the classroom.”

- James S

“Five years ago, our 10 year old son began weekly tutoring sessions with Beverley Kemp as he lacked many of the foundational skills that were required in a private school setting. Thanks to the guidance and support of Beverley and her staff, he is now a confident student who is performing at the top of his class. The transformation during this time has truly been remarkable and now our son has the ability, confidence and desire to pursue challenging math courses in his last remaining two years of high school and beyond.”

- North Shore Parent

“Our daughter has been seeing Bev for academic support since the fall of 2018. She initially received OG tutoring once a week, and in a matter of months, we noticed her confidence soar when reading aloud, and her spelling improved immensely. Since then we’ve moved towards more general academic support for our daughter and continue to see improvements in both her confidence and in her academic performance. Bev is extremely organized, works with our teacher to understand how best to support our daughter’s learning and prepares materials in advance of their sessions. She is the perfect combination of patient and firm and has established a great rapport with our daughter. It’s not a fight to get her to go to her sessions! I do not hesitate to recommend Bev – she is excellent!”

- LS

Bev’s tutoring has been invaluable for my son as he transitioned from a French language school curriculum to an English language high school. The difficulty of this transition was compounded by the fact that this took place during Covid and an all online curriculum. Bev has been a guiding light for my son during unprecedented times and he looks forward to their regular sessions. We have witnessed substantial progress and positive results academically and most importantly, her personal approach has helped to instill a greater level of confidence in my son which in many ways may be the most important contribution she has made towards his future.

- Celia Chancy and Derik Murray

My daughter is finishing 8th grade and has been working with tutors at Stepping Stones for the past two years for support in both written language and math. She has dyslexia and dyscalculia and gets help with what she needs each week including homework support, review, writing strategies, test prep etc. Our son, currently in Grade 1, has also started weekly sessions for help with reading and writing. Bev’s team are kind, knowledgeable and professional. Bev is super experienced and also very responsive — she does her best to make the schedule work for everyone. It is time and money well spent.

- Erin G

“Bev is a fantastic tutor and a very experienced teacher. She is very capable of nurturing the curiosity in every kid. I’ve known her for 9 years now. Both of my sons have benefited and learned so much from her in different ways. My elder son is currently at UBC’s Bachelor of Arts program, and he owes a lot to Bev for his writing passion and creative language skills. As a pure science and math-oriented kid, my younger son greatly improved his literacy and language skills and gained so much confidence since he started to get tutoring from Bev. He is also enjoying a lot working with Bev on his math skills, ahead of his grade. Bev’s capability to create the best tailored and the most engaging program based on each kid’s needs makes her a very special tutor. During these unprecedented times, Bev’s ability to switch to online tutoring without any troubles or issues has been very supportive for us. I would strongly recommend Bev to any parent who would like to support their children throughout their educational life and to enhance their success.”

- Bengi Sayhan

“Bev is always enthusiastic, and she has had such a positive impact on Austin's motivation and confidence. Austin now sees learning as fun, and he has developed an "I can do it" attitude. The personal relationship that Bev has built with Austin has made all of the difference to his educational progress. Bev's programs are designed to best meet my child's learning needs, and there isn't a minute of a session that is ever wasted. The Progress Reports have given me vital information that has allowed me to better understand my child's cognitive and emotional development. Bev is always professional, and she puts a personal touch on everything. I would highly recommend Stepping Stones!”

- The Sundar Family

“Bev at Stepping Stones Specialty Tutoring gave our daughters the confidence in Math that we were looking for. We felt a little bit behind after Covid had us learning from home, so Bev was the perfect solution for our daughters to feel not just caught up, but ahead! Bev has a unique ability to find the perfect way to explain new concepts to young minds like fractions and algebra. She supplements learning with our daughters' Mulgrave curriculum. Bev is top notch when it comes to helping students with test taking strategies, problem solving skills and simply taking the frustration out of Math. We highly recommend Bev to any family looking to give their child a leg up on learning!”

- Sharon Armstrong - Mulgrave School

“Bev Kemp has been working with our daughter for just under a year and the improvements to our daughter’s reading, comprehension and spelling are evident. I would describe Bev as a patient and encouraging educator who provides her students with the skill set to work independently through their challenges. She is poised and confident and in turn instills this confidence in her students. Her learning environment is serene, organized and uncluttered, creating an ideal space for her students to learn. In the myriad of available tutors, we feel lucky to have found her.”

- Bahar Hafizi

“My son, who is in grade 7, has been attending Stepping Stones for a year now, for help with his math. I am absolutely thrilled with my son’s progress! Since attending Stepping Stones, his marks have gone from a C to an A, and his confidence has improved dramatically. In addition, the workspace is welcoming, calm, and friendly. I would not hesitate to recommend Stepping Stones Specialty Tutoring for any child of any age, in any subject.”

- Emma Walsh

“My son has been working with Bev for about six years, supporting him through concentrated course previews (such as Math and Language Arts Summer Sessions) as well as for one or more sessions weekly for homework support during the school year. It has been rewarding to see how Bev’s positive, consistent and caring teaching style has contributed significantly to my son’s success at school; he has become a confident, empowered learner whose language and math skills have improved in measurable terms year after year. Bev’s knowledge and experience as an educator, along with her positivity and humour, have provided my son with what we as parents want for our children - a safe environment for effective, personalized learning that is consistently delivered in an organized, efficient, and thoughtful manner. I highly recommend Bev’s tutoring services.”

- Parent - North Vancouver

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